Title: Application of nanostructured smart materials in sustainable buildings

Authors: Antonio Apicella, Domenico Ianniello, Raffaella Aversa

Addresses: DCP, BENECON Materials Lab, Dipartimento di Cultura del Progetto School of Architecture, Second University of Naples, Abbazia di San Lorenzo, Aversa 80131 Aversa (CE), Italy. ' DCP, BENECON Materials Lab, Dipartimento di Cultura del Progetto School of Architecture, Second University of Naples, Abbazia di San Lorenzo, Aversa 80131 Aversa (CE), Italy. ' DIMP, Dept. of Materials and Production Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of Naples, Federico II, Abbazia di San Lorenzo, Aversa 80131 Aversa (CE), Italy

Abstract: A case study of microclimate control and assessment in airplane cabin by innovative use of smart materials and airflow management is presented. The journey in a hostile environment, the limited resources and the effort of improving well being and comfort while preserving energies and materials consumption is taken as a metaphoric approach to sustainable development in architecture that can be attained by mimicking smart natural building materials. A design approach based on the use in construction of phase changing materials (PCM) and natural zeolites which is coupled with finite element modelling (FEM), describes the sustainability potentiality of these new smart materials in the recovery of ancient highly efficient vernacular building technologies.

Keywords: smart materials; sustainable buildings; zeolites; phase changing materials; PCM; FEA modelling; sustainable manufacturing; nanostructures; nanotechnology; microclimate control; microclimate assessment; airplane cabins; airflow management; sustainable development; architecture; sustainability; finite element method; FEM; modelling; natural building materials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSM.2010.031620

International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing, 2010 Vol.2 No.1, pp.66 - 79

Published online: 15 Feb 2010 *

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